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LEARN Behavioral

Wisconsin Early Autism Project Opens New Location in Oak Creek and Is Now Hiring

The Wisconsin Early Autism Project (WEAP), part of LEARN Behavioral, a national organization of providers serving children with autism and other special needs, has recently opened the doors of their new learning center at 140 E. Rawson Avenue, Suite 201, Oak Creek, WI 53154.

A ribbon cutting ceremony with WEAP’s leadership team was held Tuesday, May 4, 2021, and representatives of the South Suburban Chamber of Commerce welcomed the company.

Wisconsin Early Autism Project opens the doors of their new Oak Creek center with a  grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony on May 4, 2021.
[Left to Right]  Doug Milinovich, President of South Suburban Chamber of Commerce; Brooke Marcellis, Clinical Director of Total Spectrum; Heather Bania, Clinical Director of WEAP; Linda Klotz, BCBA and Assistant Clinical Director of WEAP.
 

WEAP is the first provider of autism services in Wisconsin. With more than 25 years of clinical research and practice, WEAP is a world-renowned leader in early comprehensive behavioral treatment for young children with autism. Oak Creek is WEAP’s sixth location in Wisconsin. To meet significant demand for their services in the area, WEAP continues to add to the Oak Creek team. The company intends to hire more than a dozen full- and part-time Behavior Technicians.

WEAP is the sister company of Total Spectrum, another autism provider that is part of LEARN Behavioral. Oak Creek’s leadership team comprises clinical staff from both companies and is led by Clinical Directors Heather Bania of WEAP and Brooke Marcellis M.Ed., BCBA, LBA of Total Spectrum.

WEAP’s clinicians provide individualized, evidence-based programs in the client’s home, at their learning centers, and in the community and/or school. Their applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy services include diagnostic services, home services, special skills group services, and teleABA (telehealth) services. 

“Research has shown that children with autism can make significant and life-changing gains through early comprehensive treatment that is based upon the principles of applied behavior analysis,” said Bania. “We are dedicated to meeting the needs of young children with autism and families in Milwaukee County through our comprehensive treatment program at our new Oak Creek location.”

With locations in Altoona, Brookfield, Green Bay, Madison, Milwaukee and Oak Creek, WEAP is one of LEARN Behavioral’s autism providers in the Midwest—and part of a national team of providers spanning 15 states and the District of Columbia. For more information about WEAP, visit www.wiautism.com

About LEARN Behavioral

LEARN Behavioral specializes in using contemporary applied behavior analysis (ABA) to personalize treatment for children and young adults with autism. With clinical insights refined through decades of service to the autism community, we support more than 5,000 clients across 15 states and the District of Columbia through brands that include AST, BACA, WEAP, BCI, Total Spectrum, Trellis, and SPARKS. Our team consists of more than 30 doctoral-level clinicians, 450 Board Certified Behavior Analysts®, and 4,000 behavior technicians who share a common mission: to find success for every child in our care. 

“Connecting the Autism Community One Podcast at a Time”

LEARN Behavioral provides valuable insight and information from inspiring individuals in the autism community through their unique All Autism Talk podcast found on Spotify and on their website at www.learnbehavioral.com/allautismtalk.

Wisconsin Early Autism Project Opens New Location in Oak Creek and Is Now HiringRead More

LEARN Behavioral Names Winthrop, MA Resident as Director of Mental Health

LEARN Behavioral, a national organization of providers serving children with autism and other special needs, has recently appointed Marisa Petruccelli, Psy.D., a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in Massachusetts, as Director of Mental Health. 

In her new role, Dr. Petruccelli will integrate and unify LEARN Behavioral’s providers in mental health by clinically and operationally standardizing the services across the network, ensuring the highest quality of care. LEARN Behavioral’s providers are located throughout the U.S. and include Wisconsin Early Autism Project (WEAP), Autism Spectrum Therapies (AST), Behavioral Analysis Center for Autism (BACA), Behavioral Concepts (BCI), Total Spectrum, Trellis, and SPARKS. 

Marisa Petruccelli, Psy.D.
Marisa Petruccelli, Psy.D.

A clinical researcher with a background and training in behavioral analysis, Dr. Petruccelli has more than two decades of experience in the field of neurodevelopmental disorders. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology and a Doctor of Psychology from the American School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Washington, D.C. She completed her early graduate training at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., and completed pre- and postdoctoral training at The May Institute, Inc., in Randolph, MA. She is a clinical psychologist licensed in Massachusetts. 

Previous to LEARN Behavioral, Dr. Petruccelli was the clinical director at the May Center for Evaluation and Treatment at The May Institute, Inc., overseeing operations, assessment and clinic services licensed by the Department of Public Health, as well as the clinical staff of licensed psychologists, postdoctoral fellows and predoctoral interns with specialized training in the Autism Diagnosis Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2). Dr. Petruccelli held several roles during her 10 years with The May Institute, including The May Center’s director for Home-Based Services. Most noteworthy during this time, Dr. Petruccelli established intensive in-home behavioral services for youth with severe emotional disability through the Children’s Behavioral Health Initiative (CBHI). 

Dr. Petruccelli is a research fellow in the Department of Psychology at University of Massachusetts Boston, where she recently engaged in NIH-grant funded research with children and families to reduce health disparities in accessing assessment and treatment services for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Dr. Petruccelli’s research has been published in peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders and the Journal of Clinical and Translational Science. 

Dr. Petruccelli’s contributed articles have been published in Exceptional Parent Magazine and others.

Most recently, Dr. Petruccelli served as a lecturer at University of Massachusetts Boston for the School Psychology Graduate Program on behavior therapy in schools. She has also been a guest lecturer at Suffolk University, Boston College, Northeastern University and University of Connecticut-Neag School of Education, discussing various topics in behavior analysis. 

Dr. Petruccelli’s invited addresses include presenting at International Society for Autism Research. She has also presented at teacher professional development series events in public school districts around the New England area. Over the years, Dr. Petruccelli has presented at many local, regional and national conferences and workshops, including Applied Behavior Analysis International’s annual conventions. 

Dr. Petruccelli is a recipient of an Intramural Research Training Award from the National Institutes of Health.

Dr. Petruccelli is a former subcommittee member of the Massachusetts Autism Commission.

She is a resident of Winthrop, MA.

About LEARN Behavioral

LEARN Behavioral specializes in using contemporary applied behavior analysis (ABA) to nurture the unique potential of children and young adults with autism. With clinical insights and best practices refined through our decades of service to the autism community, we support more than 5,000 clients through brands that include WEAP, AST, BACA, BCI, Total Spectrum, Trellis, and SPARKS. Our team consists of more than 30 doctoral-level clinicians, 450 Board Certified Behavior Analysts®, and 4,000 behavior technicians who share a common mission: to find success for every child in our care. 

“Connecting the Autism Community One Podcast at a Time”

LEARN Behavioral provides valuable insight and information from inspiring individuals in the autism community through their unique All Autism Talk podcast found on Spotify and on their website at www.learnbehavioral.com/allautismtalk

LEARN Behavioral Names Winthrop, MA Resident as Director of Mental HealthRead More

Wisconsin Early Autism Project Relocates to Larger Space in Altoona and is Expanding their Behavioral Services Team

The  Wisconsin Early Autism Project (WEAP), a regional provider and part of LEARN Behavioral, a national organization serving children with autism and other special needs, has recently relocated from 2125 Heights Drive, Suite 2F in  Eau Claire, WI to 1413 Winchester Way, Suite 1, Altoona, WI 54720.

WEAP’s new Altoona center serves children and families in the Eau Claire area and surrounding counties and is led by Cassie Sedlacek, LCSW, Clinical Director. The new location has a larger footprint and can better accommodate a growing client base and additional staff. 

Wisconsin Early Autism Project (WEAP) recently relocated to a larger space in Altoona and held an outdoor grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony on April 1, 2021. Shown left to right:  Phillip Swiler, Vice President of Investor Relations for the Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce, Cassie Sedlacek, LCSW, Clinical Director of WEAP Eau Claire/Altoona, along with WEAP staff Brittany Schumacher, Heather Boss, Mary Hopton-Smith and Kimberly Wroblewski.

WEAP is currently enrolling preschool-aged clients and expanding their behavioral team. They are hiring more than a dozen behavior technicians at the new location.

“Our new center’s clinical space is larger than our previous space, which enables us to offer center-based treatment for the first time officially, whereas previously, we had clients occasionally in our clinic,” explained Sedlacek. “Our new space offers a single-floor design that allows for safe and accessible treatment for our clients. A safe outdoor play area, which was not available at our former location, is in our future plans.”

WEAP’s talented team of clinicians provide individualized, evidence-based programs in the client’s home, at their learning centers, and in the community and/or school. Their applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy services include diagnostic services, home services, special skills group, and teleABA (telehealth) services. 

An outdoor grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony with WEAP leaders and the Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce at the new Altoona location was held Thursday, April, 1, 2021. 

With locations in Altoona, Brookfield, Green Bay, Madison, Milwaukee, and Oak Creek, WEAP is one of LEARN Behavioral’s growing, nationwide organization of local providers, now spanning across 15 states and the District of Columbia. For more information about WEAP, visit www.wiautism.com

About LEARN Behavioral

LEARN Behavioral specializes in using contemporary applied behavior analysis (ABA) to nurture the unique potential of children and young adults with autism. With clinical insights and best practices refined through our decades of service to the autism community, we support more than 5,000 clients through brands that include WEAP, AST, BACA, BCI, Total Spectrum, Trellis, and SPARKS. Our team consists of more than 30 doctoral-level clinicians, 450 Board Certified Behavior Analysts®, and 4,000 behavior technicians who share a common mission: to find success for every child in our care.

“Connecting the Autism Community One Podcast at a Time”

LEARN Behavioral provides valuable insight and information from inspiring individuals in the autism community through their unique All Autism Talk podcast found on Spotify and on their website at www.learnbehavioral.com/allautismtalk

Wisconsin Early Autism Project Relocates to Larger Space in Altoona and is Expanding their Behavioral Services TeamRead More

LEARN Behavioral Partners with Indiana-Based Behavior Analysis Center for Autism

– The company will make significant investments in the clinical staff of the newly acquired company, while providing them with a patient-centric framework and other resources required to meet the unique needs of each child –   

LEARN Behavioral, which specializes in the tailored treatment of children and young adults with autism based on contemporary, family-focused Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, announced the acquisition of the Behavior Analysis Center for Autism (BACA)—a highly respected provider of ABA services to the autism community throughout Indiana.

BACA was co-founded by Carl Sundberg, Ph.D., BCBA-D, who studied under the late  Jack L. Michael, Ph.D., a former psychologist and professor at Western Michigan University who is widely regarded as a seminal figure in the development of ABA therapy. Within the framework of ABA, BACA specializes in verbal behavior—an approach pioneered by psychologist and behaviorist B.F. Skinner—to teach children with language and social deficits.

“We were approached by a variety of potential suitors, but only LEARN Behavioral shared our commitment and capability to provide the highest quality care to our patients, as well as the willingness to invest in the clinical staff who render that care,” said Sundberg, BACA’s Chief Clinician and President. “The people who matter so very much to us couldn’t be in better hands.”

BACA’s other co-founder is Devon Sundberg, M.S., BCBA. In addition to serving as the organization’s CEO, she founded Women in Behavior Analysis(WIBA), a national professional group dedicated to empowering, celebrating and mentoring women behavior analysts, while highlighting their contributions to the field.

“I’m among the thousands of women in our field who admire Devon for her leadership, as well as the resources and recognition she’s provided women who care deeply about their service to the autism community,” said Hanna C. Rue, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LEARN Behavioral’s Chief Clinical Officer.  “We look forward to continuing our deep involvement and support of the WIBA mission for years to come” added Rue.  

“BACA shares our commitment to clinical excellence and outstanding service to children and young adults with autism, as well as their families. We weigh a lot of factors when evaluating a potential acquisition, but none are more important than the strength of a provider’s mission, clinical staff and patient outcomes,” said Michael Maloney, CEO of LEARN Behavioral. “Carl, Devon and their colleagues excel in each of these areas, which is among the many reasons why BACA is an ideal fit for our network”

While BACA will continue to operate under its current brand, LEARN Behavioral will make significant investments in the clinical staff of the newly acquired organization, including providing ongoing training incorporating the latest research in the field of behavioral Analysis.   

“We’re excited to welcome the talented staff at BACA to our team, and to continue the pioneering work of Carl and Devon to provide exceptional ABA services to the Indiana community,” said Justin Funches, President of Autism Services at LEARN Behavioral.   “We look forward to investing in the professional growth of the team and leveraging their deep clinical expertise across our organization.”

With the acquisition of BACA, LEARN Behavioral’s growing, nationwide network of local providers now spans across 15 states and the District of Columbia.  

About LEARN Behavioral

LEARN Behavioral specializes in the tailored treatment of children and young adults with autism based on contemporary, family-focused Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, as well as clinical insights and best practices refined through our decades of service to the autism community.

Led by a team of talented senior clinicians, including Dr. Hanna C. Rue, PhD, BCBA-D, our team includes more than 30 doctoral-level clinicians, and 450 Board Certified Behavior Analysts®—a concentration of professionals that is unmatched by any other provider. LEARN Behavioral’s heritage of clinical leadership is rooted in the work of William Frea, Ph.D., BCBA-D, Ronit Molko, Ph.D., BCBA-D, Glen Sallows, Ph.D., BCBA-D, and Carl Sundberg, Ph. D., BCBA-D, each of whom is a pioneer in the treatment of children with autism.  

About BACA

Behavior Analysis Center for Autism (BACA) provides world-class therapy to individuals with autism and other related developmental disabilities, utilizing the scientifically proven principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA). Our four locations throughout Indiana are staffed with the highest trained and most experienced staff who work with individuals between the ages of 2 and 21.

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LEARN Behavioral announces Telehealth ABA services now available in Massachusetts through BCI

Children diagnosed with ASD may continue to receive critical ABA therapy remotely during COVID-19 pandemic.

LEARN Behavioral, the leading network of providers serving children with autism and other special needs, announces the availability of telehealth Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services to children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and their families in Massachusetts through their regional provider Behavioral Concepts Innovation (BCI).

To continue providing critical ABA services to client families during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, BCI has innovated their service delivery model and capabilities to provide telehealth ABA services, or “teleABA” as coined by LEARN. 

TeleABA provides another option for families who prefer virtual therapy services over in-person therapy, or who have household family members who are at higher risk for severe illness. It is ABA therapy overseen by a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) that parallels in-person treatment. 

“The COVID-19 response requiring nationwide social distancing and other safety guidelines has left many parents of children on the autism spectrum wondering how to maintain the gains their children have made in ABA therapy,” explained Hanna Rue, Ph.D., BCBA-D, Vice President of Clinical Development for LEARN. “BCI and LEARN are helping parents throughout Massachusetts by providing the option of teleABA therapy which helps ensure that their children are able to continue their forward momentum towards established treatment goals.” 

TeleABA Services
Treatment for ASD is in accordance with state and federal emergency guidance regarding medically necessary telehealth services. It is imperative that children with ASD avoid any break in ABA therapy as this may cause distress, disruption and potential behavior regression. TeleABA is the delivery of evidence-based ABA therapy with master level clinicians via HIPAA-compliant videoconferencing, which is accessible by computer, tablet or smartphone.

BCI’s teleABA services include direct treatment and parent consultation. Direct treatment is one-on-one treatment sessions with a child geared towards maintaining and generalizing communication, play skills and behavioral progress. Parent consultation provides an opportunity to discuss daily routines and challenging behaviors, identify targets, and implement a plan.

TeleABA enables families to continue to build upon and reinforce skills including, but not limited to:
– Potty training
– Bedtime/sleep routine
– Screen time
– Personal hygiene routine, including hand-washing

Through teleABA, BCI helps children and families in a number of ways. For example: discussing strategies and progress on a desired goal; developing a routine that fits in to your family’s schedule; providing individual reinforcement strategies; setting and explaining clear expectations; and offering “in the moment” parent coaching along with references to help successfully reach your child’s goal.

Parent Webinars
One innovative program being launched through teleABA is Parent Webinars. With COVID-19 changing day-to-day lives, new challenges are presenting and old ones are resurfacing. Parent Webinars, offered on a weekly basis, enable families facing similar challenges to join in virtual presentations to share solutions and helpful info. 

The Parent Webinars are led by Ashley Williams, Clinical Director for ABACS and Advances in the LEARN provider network in the Greater Boston area. Each webinar is guided by a BCBA and will include clinical tips, strategies, and suggestions to help parents in these challenging times. 

Dr. Rue continued, “We have received a tremendous response from our families, who are experiencing new successes due to our virtual teleABA services. It is our hope that teleABA treatment will continue to be accepted by insurers beyond COVID-19, as this will enable us to serve a greater number of children and families on the autism spectrum who need services but have limited in-person access to ABA providers.”

Currently, BCI has more than 300 BCBAs providing teleABA throughout Massachusetts and in total, LEARN has served over 2,500 families through teleABA, with nearly 1,000 trained providers across the nation who have delivered sessions. LEARN is dedicated to supporting their staff and has developed a comprehensive resource library which enables them to access tools, resources, training and support online.

For more information about BCI’s teleABA services, visit https://bciaba.com

About BCI
Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Worcester, BCI has grown to become the go-to provider of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services to children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their families throughout Massachusetts. We identify and facilitate effective personalized instruction that allows children to discover more, learn more, and be more – increasing their independence and enhancing their quality of life at home, in school, and in the community. BCI is a Massachusetts Department of Public Health approved provider of specialty ABA services for early intervention. BCI also provides center, home-based, and afterschool services through private and public health insurance. Further information on BCI is available at https://bciaba.com.

About LEARN
LEARN is a leading network of providers which includes BCI, as well as ABACS and Advances in the Greater Boston area, that serves children with autism and other special learning needs. LEARN specializes in behavioral health treatment based on the science of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and is committed to providing programs and services that are family-focused, community-minded, and delivered with the highest clinical integrity. The LEARN team delivers more than 2.5 million hours of service annually and is comprised of more than 5,000 passionate professionals dedicated to nurturing each child’s personal best. For more information, visit https://www.learnbehavioral.com
 

LEARN Behavioral announces Telehealth ABA services now available in Massachusetts through BCIRead More